Distracted driving accidents lawyer St. Louis, MO. Distracted driving has sadly become an epidemic on American roadways. When a driver’s attention is not fully on the road ahead of them, it can easily cause an accident–in fact, statistics have shown that drivers are three times more likely to get into an accident if they were looking at their phone behind the wheel. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the CDC have found that 1.6 million car crashes involve a distracted driver annually, with an estimated 400,000 injuries and 2,800 fatalities from texting while driving crashes in 2018 alone.
Combs Waterkotte knows all about how dangerous distracted drivers are on roadways in St. Louis and throughout Missouri. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident where the other driver was on their phone at the time of the crash, contact an experienced St. Louis distracted driving accidents lawyer today. Our firm is devoted to getting clients the maximum possible settlement for accidents caused by the negligence of another motorist. Call us today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online to discuss your case for free.
Distracted Driving Is Dangerous in St. Louis and Elsewhere in Missouri
In addition to the shocking numbers above, NHTSA has also collected additional data on the problem of texting and driving in America. Some of their other findings include:
- One in four distracted drivers in a fatal crash was between the ages of 20 and 29
- Distracted driving is seen as six times more likely to cause an accident than driving while intoxicated
- According to a CDC survey, 39% of high school students interviewed said that they had texted or emailed while behind the wheel at least once in the previous month, a number that increases to 60% amongst students 18 and older
- One in five people who died in a crash with a distracted driver were pedestrians or cyclists
Driving while texting means that you are distracted in three ways. Your eyes are taken off the road, you cannot put both hands on the wheel, and most importantly, your mind is not entirely focused on driving and monitoring the conditions in front of you. The CDC study referenced above found that sending or reading a text while being behind the wheel is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field with one’s eyes shut.
Texting While Driving In St. Louis and Across Missouri
Missouri is one of only two states that does not fully ban texting while driving — the other is Montana. While it does prohibit motorists under the age of 21 from texting while behind the wheel, they are still allowed to use their phones to call someone else without requiring a hands-free device installed in the car, as is the case for all drivers in Missouri. Commercial drivers are also subject to this ban.
Even though texting while driving is prohibited for minors and CDL drivers in Missouri, the punishment for it is not severe. Distracted driving is classified as simply a moving violation under Missouri law, the same as a speeding ticket or running a stop sign. The fine for texting and driving is $85 plus court costs. In addition, two points are put on the driver’s record.
Contact A Top St. Louis, MO Distracted Driving Accidents Lawyer Today
While texting and driving is not technically illegal for most Missouri drivers, it still remains an unsafe, highly dangerous practice that insurance companies do not look favorably on after accidents. If you have been in an accident with a distracted driver, whether you were driving a car or struck while out on the street, it is important to contact a top St. Louis car accident lawyer online immediately. Combs Waterkotte has represented many people in St. Louis and across Missouri who have been in a car crash where the other driver was on their phone at the time of the accident. Our firm gives the maximum amount of personal attention to all its distracted driving clients and is driven to give all our clients the settlement they deserve. Being in an accident is traumatic, and our firm understands this, as we provide our distracted driving accident clients with access to mental health counseling and top medical care. Call Combs Waterkotte today at (314) 900-HELP or contact us online for a free case review and to experience for yourself the benefits of working with a distracted driving attorney in St. Louis, MO that values communication and transparency.
